In case you didn’t notice, there was a bit of a storm out there! The Nor’easter knocked out most angling, with rivers a notable exception. It’s strange days indeed when bonito are more buzz-worthy than bass and not just in Buzzards Bay.
Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report
Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters and Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate seized an opportunity to play hooky in the midst of the stormy weather, leaving little information along the South Shore. But I’m betting that recent downpours have flushed out herring fry that have been stuck in upstream areas. The mouths of the Town River and North River should be rife with herring fry, making them convenient stopovers for migrating striped bass. While not nearly as prolific, Bartlett Brook, which empties into White Horse Beach, also has a small herring run, making that worth a look. Herring runs, which wind through freshwater bodies, support some of the more spectacular fishing in the Bay State for sweetwater gamesters. Pinch points such as dams/spillways, drop-offs, and river/lake effluences concentrate the fry, resulting in free-for-all feeds which can consist of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, white perch, yellow perch, and bluegills. The catching can be fish-per-cast, pinch-me stuff, with the bite usually a first light affair.
Post-storm, Little Sister Charters’ Captain Jason Colby is viewing the Westport/Buzzards Bay Area as a clean slate and a challenge as to where those crab-crunchers are now. Fortunately, the forecast is calling for flat seas, so the white-chin whereabouts should be easier to find. The bet is that the action should be even closer towards the river. Just be prepared for a blistering catch-and-release black sea bass bite. Ever the odd couple opposite the tog, the bonito action should be predictable with diving birds and surface feeds pointing the way as soon as the river is cleared. If nothing is doing, Gooseberry Point deserves a good, long look, as does even the river.
Greater Boston Fishing Report
Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy told me that recent rains have been a boon to local fishing, and more than just the salt has been affected. Anglers fishing Whitman’s Pond, which is the tailwater of the Weymouth Back River herring run, have been busting big bass on spinner baits, swim baits, and buzz baits. No doubt herring fry, which were born this past spring/summer, are balled up and moving downstream, which has woken up a few lunker Larrys. Mouths of the Weir River, Weymouth Fore, Weymouth Back, and Neponset have been among the most consistent for striped bass at this stage of the fall run, with ample bait the reason the bass are still present. Night stalkers are grabbing eels at the shop and catching stripers at Hull Gut. Demand for grass shrimp shows no signs of abating as more anglers are taking to fishing for smelt. The usual spots in Hull, Hingham, and Quincy continue to produce. As for cod, anglers baiting with clams are catching fish near Boston Ledge, Martin’s Ledge, and a number of ledges off Hull. Hopefully, water temperatures will dip into the 50s before the cod season expires at the end of the month, which may bring cod in even closer along Nantasket Roads and Toddy Rocks.
Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett plugged President Roads as an inshore spot that could see cod by the end of the month. Meanwhile, anglers are getting their cod kicks near Roaring Bulls as well as just outside of the Brewsters and Calf Islands. Anglers who have been giving the shop’s Cunner Killah a try off the plethora of parks that border the Harborwalk are not only getting the namesake species but also tautog! While crabs are the preferred chow for tog, they’ll also take down seaworms or clams. Pete gave a shout-out to Haiba, who is the craftsman who hand ties those rigs right in the shop. Herring fry swimming out from the Charles River and Mystic River are still holding striped bass. Meanwhile, the freshwater option continues to gain momentum among many. Those same rivers that harbor herring also contain panfish and black bass, which, when pushing the fry, create mini-blitzes that are easily spotted. Almost any small swimmer or jig/soft plastic will catch most of those species when on the feed. Trout continue to be among the more common sweetwater targets with Jamaica Pond, Walden Pond, Horn Pond, and Sluice among the favorites. Garlic scented Power Bait is working, as are trout worms and small shiners.
Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report
This week’s report of bonito from Tomo of Tomo’s Tackle in Salem seemed more suitable for Vineyard Sound than Salem Sound! Anglers live-lining tinker mackerel in the hopes of catching stripers have even caught bonito throughout Ipswich Bay and especially off Crane’s Beach. In addition to Misery Channel and Halfway Rock, mackerel have been caught off the Beverly Pier and Salem Willows Pier. The latter piers have also produced some harbor pollock. With so much of the biomass now departed for southern shores, unfortunately, striped bass fishing is more miss than hit. An option to consider is cod, which may come as close as Dread Ledge by the end of the month, but as of now can be caught off Kettle Ledge and Saturday Night Ledge. TJ from Three Lantern Marine in Gloucester said that Magnolia is holding plenty of cod in close, with anglers finding them in 50/60’ of water. The ratio of shorts to keepers is overwhelmingly tipped towards small fish, but persistent anglers are catching a few for the cooler. He has also heard of a few hardtails from Cape Ann through Ipswich Bay. Oddly, there have been requests for steel leaders, but with a dearth of bluefish, it might be small porbeagles that are shredding leaders.
While Surfland Bait and Tackle regulars have little issue with a rocking and rolling surf, the past week was even more than they can handle. Martha Moulton did say that a few chunkers off the wildlife refuge have caught schoolies/slots, but many more are getting little more than a casting workout. The shop is still carrying eels, with some doing well at night on Joppa Flats, off Sandy Point, Plum Island Sound, and at the mouth of the Essex River. There have been no reports of bonito for those casting tin off the ocean front, but occasionally shad are hooked.
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
Nuno of Lunkers in Ashland said that Power Bait is moving briskly as anglers take advantage of freshly stocked trout in Ashland Reservoir and Lake Cochituate. The recent rains have resulted in more activity from pike in Heard Pond as well as Fairhaven Bay. Heard also has some solid white perch, while if crappie is more to your liking, consider Fairhaven. Rick from Jerry’s Bait and Tackle in Milford told me that anglers working spinner baits as well as buzz baits have been catching well from Lake Ripple. Shiner trollers are catching brown trout from South Pond, while nearby Quabog Pond is a better fit for pike. His pick for an outsize pickerel is Milford Pond.
Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston told me that an official from the DCR office informed him that anglers can fish the “rail trail” side of the Quinapoxet River in its entirety, and upstream of the old dam remnants, anglers can wade! Anglers must keep off the aqueduct structure coming out of the Quabbin, however. The pier on the other side is complete now, with the only caveat being its height above the water. Fortunately, Eddie informs me that he has nets more than capable enough to reach the fish. Elsewhere, with the rainfall, salmon are now being caught more frequently off the Causeway as well as in the Quinapoxet and Stillwater Rivers. Lakers are increasingly coming closer to the shore as water temperatures drop, while Sally is cooperating off Gate 6 and off Scar Hill Road.
Shawn from Merrimack Sports said that picked up current in the Merrimack River has had a corresponding effect on pike. The shop’s pike picks are at the mouths of the Spicket River, Shawsheen River, and by Stanley and Kimball Islands. For bass, the recommendation is Lake Attitash as well as Tuxbury Pond.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
The South Coast, just outside of the Westport River and out through Buzzards Bay, has to be a Bay State best bet with blackfish and bonito two prominent players. Hapless herring fry tumbling from the Town Rivers and North Rivers remain stopovers for stripers heading southward. A promising start to the smelt season seems to be only getting better, with piers from Hull through Quincy crowding up. Herring fry are also the fuel for impressive freshwater fishing for a menagerie of species throughout the Charles and Mystic Rivers. Bonito along the North Shore are helping to take the sting out of departing striped bass. Fortunately, we have solid freshwater options thanks to recent trout stockings, Wachusett lakers, smallies, and salmon. Passionate pike pursuers are loving the increased current and action on the Sudbury and Merrimack Rivers.
Lots of opportunities Ron, Salt and fresh. Good comprehensive report as usual.Thanks